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It’s the last week of the season, and the battle to be the starting quarterback for CSU’s football team is starting all over again.

Coach Jim McElwain said Monday he’d give fifth-year senior M.J. McPeek and redshirt freshman Conner Smith equal time with the first-string offense in practices early this week before making a decision Wednesday night on who the starter will be Saturday when the Rams (3-8, 2-5 Mountain West Conference) face New Mexico (4-8, 1-6) in at Hughes Stadium.

“It’s an open competition,” McElwain said at his weekly news conference.

McPeek was a surprise starter Saturday at Boise State, earning the job over Smith, the coach said, for the way he practiced in the days leading up to the game. Smith started the previous three games, including wins over Hawaii and UNLV.

“It’s one of those deals where the importance of every rep you take has got to mean something, and it’s not OK to go through the motions,” McElwain said, dismissing the notion that he should go with Smith since he’ll be back next year and McPeek won’t.

McPeek and Smith have started three games apiece since sophomore Garrett Grayson, who beat both out for the starting job during spring practices and offseason work in the summer, broke the collarbone on his left (nonthrowing) shoulder in a Sept. 29 loss at Air Force.

McPeek’s best effort came after replacing Grayson in that game. The 6-foot-4, 236-pounder, who hadn’t played in a game since his senior year at Rangeview High School in Aurora, completed 22 of 34 passes for 292 yards and two touchdowns in the final three quarters of that game but also was intercepted twice. For the season, McPeek is 47 of 85 for 552 yards with four touchdowns and five interceptions.

Smith, a 6-5, 220-pounder from Richmond, Texas, also has thrown four touchdown passes and been intercepted five times this season while completing 61 of 100 passes for 768 yards.

Smith was first forced into action in an Oct. 13 loss at San Diego State, when McPeek went down with an injury to his left (nonthrowing) shoulder. He completed the first 11 passes he threw in that game before throwing an interception and finished 18 of 22 for 165 yards with no touchdowns.

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McPeek and Smith both struggled at Boise State, against a defense that came into the game ranked No. 5 nationally in passing defense. McPeek was 4 of 9 for 19 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions in the first half. Smith went 4 of 11 for 53 yards and one touchdown with no interceptions in the second half.

Smith benefited from watching the game unfold on the sidelines, knowing he would get a chance to play, McElwain said, much as he did when he was replaced by Grayson for a quarter in a 45-31 loss at Wyoming.

Grayson suffered a setback in his recovery from his injury when he took a hit during the Wyoming game and hasn’t played or practiced since. He’ll compete with Smith and freshman C.J. Leonard, a former Fossil Ridge High quarterback who is redshirting this season while running the scout team, next spring.

This week, though, it’s McPeek and Smith competing for the starting job. And receiver Marquise Law, a senior, said he’s fine with either of them.

“They’re all good guys, and I believe in all of them so whoever the coaches decide to be the starting quarterback, I’m fine with it,” Law said.